Creation Ethics

Reproduction, Genetics, and Quality of Life

David DeGrazia

First book on the ethics of creating people that has such a broad range: from abortion to wrongful life and responsible procreation; from genetic engineering to obligations to future generations

Develops a unique theory of human identity, deployed in the context of genetic enhancement

Includes lucid and helpful overviews of (1) wrongful life and (2) nonidentity problem

Creation Ethics

Reproduction, Genetics, and Quality of Life

David DeGrazia

Description

The ethics of creating-or declining to create-human beings has been addressed in several contexts: debates over abortion and embryo research; literature on "self-creation"; and discussions of procreative rights and responsibilities, genetic engineering, and future generations. Here, for the first time, is a sustained, scholarly analysis of all of these issues-a discussion combining breadth of topics with philosophical depth, imagination with current scientific understanding, argumentative rigor with accessibility. The overarching aim of Creation Ethics is to illuminate a broad array of issues connected with reproduction and genetics, through the lens of moral philosophy. With novel frameworks for understanding prenatal moral status and human identity, and exceptional fairness to those holding different views, David DeGrazia sheds new light on the ethics of abortion and embryo research, genetic enhancement and prenatal genetic interventions, procreation and parenting, and decisions that affect the quality of life of future generations. Along the way, he helpfully introduces personal identity theory and value theory as well as such complex topics as moral status, wrongful life, and the "nonidentity problem." The results include a subjective account of human well-being, a standard for responsible procreation and parenting, and a theoretical bridge between consequentialist and nonconsequentialist ethical theories. The upshot is a synoptic, mostly liberal vision of the ethics of creating human beings.

"This is a valuable book on a fascinating topic, written by a major figure in the field. The topic of the ethics of creating people is both practically urgent, as new technologies develop for shaping human offspring, and also of great theoretical importance for ethics and meta-ethics because it engages the deepest issues, including those of moral status, the nature of justice, and identity. DeGrazia has already proved to be an important force in shaping the debate regarding these issues. Anyone writing on this topic will have to address this book head-on. The style is remarkably lucid and almost jargon-free. Given that the book is filled with complex, sustained argumentation, this is quite an accomplishment. This book will be of interest to legal scholars, philosophers working in normative ethics, meta-ethics, and bioethics, and public policy scholars." - Allen Buchanan, James B. Duke Professor of Philosophy, Duke University

Creation Ethics

Reproduction, Genetics, and Quality of Life

David DeGrazia

Table of Contents

1. Introduction 2. Prenatal Moral Status and Ethics3. Creation Through Genetic Enhancement4. Prenatal Genetic Interventions5. Bearing Children in Wrongful Life Cases6. Bearing and Caring for Children with Disadvantage 7. Obligations to Future Generations

Creation Ethics

Reproduction, Genetics, and Quality of Life

David DeGrazia

Author Information

David DeGrazia has served on the faculty of the George Washington University since 1989. Over the course of his career, he has been a dedicated teacher, a prolific scholar with publications in a wide range of topics in philosophy and bioethics, and Department Chair for one term. He lives with his wife and daughter in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Creation Ethics

Reproduction, Genetics, and Quality of Life

David DeGrazia

Reviews and Awards

"In this excellent book, David DeGrazia addresses ethical and philosophical issues connected with reproduction and genetics. In addition to tackling the philosophical problems, he typically provides fairly detailed policy recommendations for each issue. This is quite a feat in a book not much longer than 200 pages.... Creation Ethics provides a wealth of factual information, combined with serious philosophical analysis of extremely difficult questions. It is a major contribution to the burgeoning literature on reproduction and genetics. Anyone interested in these areas will want to give this book a careful read."--Bonnie Steinbock, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews